2019, Lightweight Plate Carrier Set Up

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
I haven't purchased any of this yet. Looking at purchasing this in roughly a year or two. Obviously some items will probably change given that timeline. Looking for advice and feedback. I tried to have locations in the titles of items to help visualize the system, as it all is supposed to work together to build efficiency.

This is designed to work with a belt that has 2 additional 5.56 magazines. 7 magazines + 1 in the gun = 240 rounds.

Principles behind the build:

* Stay low to the ground in the prone(no double mags up front)
* Ounces = lbs, keep that weight off
* Keep at least 2 tourniquets up front for self use
* Side plates are a good thing
* Keep each item multicam if possible
* Maximize mobility
* Every TQ will have a holster of some kind for general and UV protection
* Speed in use and access(shorty mags and TQs up front)
* Right side clear for handgun draw
* Noise Discipline(I should be able to shake like a leaf with only the sound of fabrics rubbing)


Plate Carrier Set Up​

$1,442 – Plates​

>$2,945 + Plates​



Projected 30-35 lbs. in total​



References/Inspiration:



The build has clear differences from each of the above though. Such as Garand: esstac shorty's over talls, Lovell: Placement of the admin pouch, Blowers: Types of mag pouches.

Carrier:

Scarab DLX
https://www.velsyst.com/scarab-dlx.html
$400

Armor:

Velocity Systems Armor Plates
Front
https://www.velsyst.com/esapi-level-iv-stand-alone.html
$????
6.25 lbs.

Sides
https://www.velsyst.com/7-62x39-api-bz-multi-hit-stand-alone-rifle-side-plate.html
$???
2.6 lbs(both)

The above alone: 14 lbs.

Cummberbund:

https://arborarmsusa.com/product/frc-kit/
$235
Faster replacement cumberbund + side plates


Magazines: $110

Esstac 5.56 Kywi triple shorty Front
https://www.esstac.com/product-page/5-56-triple-kywi-tall-shorty
$70


Blue Alpha Gear low profile double left side over the side plates.
https://www.blueforcegear.com/ten-speed-double-m4-mag-pouch.html
$40, This allows my non shooting hand to replace empty mag pouches in the front with full mags.


Medical: $335

titan tactical Front and low
http://ethostactical.com/product/elastic-tourniquet-holder/
$17


Contained kit bag with fabric scissors Right side, rear

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...RNJLW&linkId=c9c0759754529eabe3899ebc3c83764a
$65 with extra + $12 for NAR Gauze


NAR Shear Scissors Behind the admin pouch and in the IFAK.
https://www.amazon.com/North-Americ...ue+sc,sporting,194&sr=1-7-catcorr-spons&psc=1
Buy 2, $30


CAT Tourniquet Front, left and right
https://www.amazon.com/North-Americ...industrial&sprefix=nar+,industrial,152&sr=1-2
$148, buy 4


TQ Holster Front, left and right
https://www.amazon.com/NAR-C-A-T-To...Y76JN2GAXT1J&refRID=3PTQ37QSY76JN2GAXT1J&th=1
$75, buy 3(this is also for war belt and other kits)


CAT Holster Front, Left and Right
https://www.narescue.com/c-a-t-holder
$78, buy 4(this is also for war belt and other kits)



Storage $376

Haley strategic flatpack Back
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...77YF4&linkId=0bf0efd24f02c57ddb1abcfdf0015029
$135 This has compartmentalization and I can wear it very flat. This matters for my mobility.


2 Drag Handles Back, slightly left and right. I want it where if only one can be pulled, it isn't dragging my body canted too much.
https://www.amazon.com/5-11-Tactica...d=1552198792&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1-fkmrnull
$70

This will simulate the Sprint, Drag, Carry from the Army rn.



Qore Cold water pack 2 liter Back, under plate
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JXYF6D2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A1YQVTJL6DOHGI&psc=1
$70, I like camelbaks, but they're sometimes difficult. This appears to provide additional capabilities in keeping water warm in cold weather, keeping myself cool in the heat and providing protection from plate deformation(at least when frozen).



Ferro Concepts push to talk retainer anywhere and everywhere necessary
https://ferroconcepts.com/collections/hardware/products/ptt-retainer?variant=22545814020
$45, get 3


Admin Pouch Front, top
https://www.blueforcegear.com/admin-pouch.html
$56, small and well compartmentalized.


Spiritus 3 fold shoulder cover (cord management)
https://www.trex-arms.com/store/spiritus-systems-lv119-trifold-shoulder-cover/
$20, I want that cable management.


And throw in some patches with my name and blood type, whatever that'll be, on the front and back.

Some specific/starter questions:

* What am I forgetting? Capabilities, gear, etc.
* Are there better product solutions for the specific roles of those selected?
* Does anyone have experience with the Scarab DLX?
* What other references should I look at?
* What questions should I be asking? lol
 
What is your purpose for this? If lightweight is your goal, you could probably easily shave off a couple of pounds in plates if you could more clearly define what threats (calibers and rounds) you are up against.
 

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
I forgot a principle
* Maximize protection.

So, basically the best plates regardless of the weight and keep the weight off in other ways(the carrier, gear)
 

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
I don't know the most about plates, I just heard Velocity made some good ones and I knew they would work well with the DLX
 
I forgot a principle
* Maximize protection.

So, basically the best plates regardless of the weight and keep the weight off in other ways(the carrier, gear)

Thats really tough to say "the best plates" because they are rated for certain specific threat protections. like level 4 is "Tested to stop .30cal steel core armor piercing rifle ammunition." this does not mean that it will necessarily stop 5.56 AP, or even 5.56 ball due to the different velocities involved. Your best course of action is to decide what your most likely threats are and find plates that are special threat rated to those rounds.

https://www.justnet.org/pdf/Understanding-Armor-Protection.pdf
 

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
I don't have a branching yet and whether I could actually this use my personal set up is very, very dubious at best.

I would want this to be set up for great do it all/down range use. That of course means including comms, which I don't know nearly enough about to even really start there yet. I want to get there though, just in time.
 

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
@2000XJclassic
I'm thinking multiple .308 AP/ 7.62x54r AP. Again, I don't know what plates can do that. Probably not any side plates that can take that period I would think.
 

user12358

Regular Member
On the Arbor Arms cumberbund (great product btw) make sure that you are getting First Spear Tubes instead of the Cobra Buckles if you are worried about sound. The tubes will also slightly lessen the amount of deadspace with no MOLLE in between the cumberbund and the front plate. Also Arbor Arms has a really good radio wing that allows you to tuck the radio behind the cumberbund but have it hug really close to the front plate.

The Ferro PTT retainers are good but you shouldn't need 15 total retainers, the 5 pack will be more than enough.

AT Armor STOP-BZ plates will save you some weight but are certainly a little pricey. The most important thing I can recommend with plates is to stay thin.

I would encourage you to think about having your spare mags on the right side cumberbund instead of the left. I know this sounds counter-intuitive but you are mainly going to use these to replace the magazines on the front of your chest, not for speed reloads. This clears up the left side and stops a sling from getting snagged. I personally have a single flashbang pouch mounted at the very front of my cumberbund on the left side and a team use medkit at the very back which allows me full use of a VTAC sling with no snagging, even when switching shoulders.

An alternative would be something like a Standhogg which has very good internal cumberbund magazine retention options.
 
call AT armor. they can help you out on deciding on plates. https://store.atarmor.com/default.asp I will second the suggestion on the STOP-BZ plate. They have an excellent threat profile.
Another option is Shotstop. they are fairly new and gaining traction. https://www.shotstop.net/rifle-plates They may have something that works for you. The Duritium IV+HS Body Armor Plates seem to fit what you are after and they knock almost 2 pounds off of the velocity plates https://www.shotstop.net/shop-body-armor/duritium-ivhs
 

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
I didn't think about sound with the buckles, great point. Are the tubes almost as fast? I would think so.

I saw their radio pouch and loved it, just not ready for thinking about that capability juuuust yet. It's definitely on my radar though.

After using my FLC and having my sling snag almost every time I switch to have it around only my neck or taking it off, you're making a very compelling point lol

The AT plates seem great after looking at them on the AT's site for all of 30 seconds. I'll definitely look into them further.

Checking out the Standhogg now
 
So I don’t know your MOS but for arguments sake let’s say a butter bar in the infantry. In all honesty, you can probably get away with two rifle mags on the belt and 1 in the gun. If YOU are fighting and actively needing 7 mags, you either fucked up bad and sent your platoon to fight a fight they had no business getting into, or your PSG isn’t doing his job and reining you in cause LTs job ain’t to go door to door shooting mofos in the face or actively hitting the objective. (If you have a good PSG he’s gonna straighten you out when you do something stupid, don’t argue with him, it might technically your platoon but he’s the one running it and if he likes you, keeping you from stepping on your own cock)

Focus on the admin side, that’s where you make your money. Probably not gonna need 6-7 rifle mags. You WILL need radio, GPS, note pad and pin, cheat sheets for call for fire and 9 line, both the MEDEVAC and UXO ones etc. if your unit doesn’t issue good comms gear consider investing in it. Set of comtac IIIs and a quality PTT, not the standard Peltor PTT, think TEA or TCI, good radio pouch placed where you can easily get to it (up front not on your back)

Signaling is another thing, having a means to carry smoke, VS-17, thermal markers etc on you will be important

As a Platoon Leader I expect you to “lead from the front” but that doesn’t necessarily mean fighting, you’ve got other tasks to be handling that your CO and PSG will be teaching you. Let the sled dogs do the running, your directing traffic.
 

user12358

Regular Member
I didn't think about sound with the buckles, great point. Are the tubes almost as fast? I would think so.

Just as fast and have really won me over as far as strength. I had to make a small modification to the JPC 1.0 for the tubes to work perfectly but once they are setup they are great and don't really pivot around when wearing them like Cobra buckles do.

There is nothing more frustrating that a sling setup that is working against rather than with you but as always it is a personal thing about how you run a sling and which sling you use.

I do have to agree with a lot of what @runningwolf said as far as what an infantry butter bar should be wearing versus a slicked up assaulter vest. Obviously a personal use plate carrier puts you in a different position.
 

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
@runningwolf
Yes, I'm not expecting to be doing the shooting. If I'm with the assaulting element, I'm directing the fires, not slinging it. I like extra magazines because of situations like the battle of Wanat. I don't really get to decide if that sort of event happens to my unit or not, I can only mitigate it. Having spare magazines to give to my soldiers would be a solid reason I humbly think to have that many. Under the right circumstances, I'm never using them. The weight savings is to have that capability. Downloading to 1-2 up front instead of 3 could be a great idea.
I'm definitely not going to be the door kicker guy though.

But this is also a do-it-all, personal use build. I'm more than likely not going to be able to use this for work.

As far as GPS, I would love to have use the system from Baer Solutions on my chest, up high.

As far as communications, absolutely! I'm just working up to that point rn. With signals, I like how Garandthumb set up his on the left side and I have plans for using the MARCO on the belt. Though, I've never used it before.
 

Frosty_Bear

Regular Member
From the input so far, a few possible changes:
All from the wearer's perspective,

Running one mag in the front, bottom left. 6 magazines = 180 rounds.
Admin pouch on the front, bottom right
Baer Solutions Phone rig front, top and centered
Arbor Arms Radio on the left side, front for non shooting hand manipulation.
Smoke and signals on the left side, just behind the radio
 

BooneGA

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
WARLORD
@runningwolf
Yes, I'm not expecting to be doing the shooting. If I'm with the assaulting element, I'm directing the fires, not slinging it. I like extra magazines because of situations like the battle of Wanat. I don't really get to decide if that sort of event happens to my unit or not, I can only mitigate it. Having spare magazines to give to my soldiers would be a solid reason I humbly think to have that many. Under the right circumstances, I'm never using them. The weight savings is to have that capability. Downloading to 1-2 up front instead of 3 could be a great idea.
I'm definitely not going to be the door kicker guy though.

The bigger factor that isn't being discussed here is that if you are in a regular army line infantry unit you basic load will most likely be dictated to you. 7 mags is a good idea in some environments, but way overkill for most. Plan on having to carry 7. And limited flexibility with your options to use any personal gear at all. Good on you for not double stacking mags, but you may have to depending on other equipment you are going to be required to carry as a leader. The concerns with the bulk aren't quite a significant in that role - you'll most likely be handing them out for others to use as mentioned previously.

Cable management - most carriers will have some sort of shoulder pad that you can use, but I would avoid running anything set up that way. Your weapon is your radio. It shouldn't be on your back. What other cables are you thinking you'll have?

As for a pack or hydration I don't think that needs (or should) be attached to the PC under 99% of circumstances. A separate backpack is FAR more useful and you'll be working in and out of vehicles way more than walking so the added bulk is a huge nuisance. Being able to access your own equipment/supplies and ditch the backpack when in a vehicle is much more beneficial.

Rick
 
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